The majority of inexpensive wine is intended to be drunk within 6-12 months (reds within 2 years).
However, most fine wine will improve with age when stored correctly.
This chart indicates the quality of recent vintages (on a scale of 1 to 10, where 10 is the best).
It will also indicate when a wine is ready to drink and those which have the potential to improve further.
Key: K = Keep (will improve), D = Drinking now, P
= Past its best, 10 = Outstanding
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1988 |
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1989 |
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1990 |
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1991 |
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1992 |
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1993 |
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1994 |
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1995 |
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1996 |
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1997 |
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1998 |
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1999 |
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2000 |
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2001 |
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2002 |
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2003 |
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2004 |
| Red Wines |
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| Bordeaux (Médoc) |
9D/K |
9D/K |
10D/K |
5P |
4P |
4D |
6D/K |
8D/K |
9D/K |
7D/K |
8D/K |
7D/K |
10K |
8K |
8K |
9K |
9K |
| Bordeaux (Right Bank) |
9D/K |
9D/K |
9D/K |
5P |
4P |
5D |
6D |
7D/K |
8D/K |
7D/K |
8D/K |
7/DK |
10K |
8K |
7K |
8K |
9K |
| Burgundy (Côte de Nuits) |
9D |
8D |
9D |
5D |
7D |
8D/K |
5D |
9D/K |
8D/K |
6D/K |
7D/K |
9K |
8K |
7K |
9K |
8K |
7K |
| Burgundy (Côte de Beaune) |
9D |
8D |
9D |
5D |
7D |
8D/K |
5D |
9D/K |
8D/K |
6D/K |
8D/K |
9K |
8K |
7K |
9K |
8K |
7K |
| Rhône (Northern) |
8D |
9D/K |
9D |
5D |
6D |
5D |
6D |
9D/K |
9D/K |
8D/K |
9K |
8K |
7K |
8K |
6K |
6K |
6K |
| Rhône (Southern) |
7D |
8D |
9D |
5D |
5D |
6D |
4P |
8D/K |
7D/K |
6D/K |
9K |
9K |
7K |
8K |
6D |
7K |
6K |
| Spain (Rioja) |
5D |
6D |
7D |
8D |
7D |
5P |
6D/K |
9D/K |
7D/K |
6D |
8D/K |
6D/K |
6D/K |
8K |
6K |
6K |
8K |
| Italy (Northern) |
8D |
9D |
10D |
4D |
3D |
7D |
7D |
7D/K |
8D/K |
9D/K |
8D/K |
8K |
8K |
8K |
5K |
8K |
8K |
| Italy (Central) |
9D |
6D |
10D |
8D |
5D |
7D |
7D/K |
9D/K |
7D/K |
10D/K |
7D/K |
8DK |
7K |
8K |
6K |
8K |
9K |
| Australia (Barossa) |
6D |
6D |
9D/K |
9D/K |
6D |
7D |
8D |
7D/K |
8D/K |
6D |
10K |
7K |
7K |
10K |
9K |
7K |
8K |
| White Wines |
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| Bordeaux (Graves) |
8D |
8D |
6P |
6P |
6P |
6D |
7D |
7K |
8K |
9K |
9K |
8K |
9K |
8K |
7K |
6K |
6K |
| Bordeaux (Sauternes) |
9D/K |
9D/K |
9D/K |
4D |
5D |
4D |
5D |
7D/K |
8D/K |
8D/K |
9K |
8K |
7K |
9K |
7K |
8K |
6K |
| Burgundy |
8D |
8D |
8D |
5D |
9D |
6D |
6D |
9D |
8D |
7D |
8K |
7K |
8D/K |
7K |
8K |
6K |
8K |
| Alsace |
9D/K |
8D/K |
8D/K |
5P |
5D |
6D |
6D |
8D/K |
8D/K |
8D/K |
7D/K |
9D/K |
7K |
7D |
8K |
7K |
7K |
| Other |
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| Vintage Port |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
8K |
6K |
N/A |
9K |
N/A |
N/A |
8K |
5K |
7K |
10K |
6K |
7K |
10K |
N/A |
| Vintage Champagne |
9K |
9D |
10D/K |
4P |
6D |
4P |
3P |
8K |
10K |
8K |
9K |
8K |
6K |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
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